Pins and needles - results

Well the biopsy came back positive positive in the lymph nodes in the neck. I'm devastated obviously. I had an appointment already scheduled next week for my oncologist and he will order a PET scan then so I will have a better idea how extensive this has invaded the lymph system.

But what are my chances that chemo will get this under control?

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    I know several people who have had successful treatment
    I am sorry to hear that the results of your biopsy were not what we hoped. I know several people who have had a recurrence in the lymph nodes in their neck and had successful chemotherapy and/or surgery and are now NED again. One of our members, Joel C, had a recurrence in his Paratracheal lymph node and he went on to have treatment and surgery and is doing well.

    I know this is devastating to hear, I think all of us who are survivors live in fear of this kind of recurrence. Try to stay positive. I am glad your appointment with your oncologist is soon and hopefully you can get the scan results quickly and get a treatment plan defined.

    You will be in my prayers,


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    paul61 said:

    I know several people who have had successful treatment
    I am sorry to hear that the results of your biopsy were not what we hoped. I know several people who have had a recurrence in the lymph nodes in their neck and had successful chemotherapy and/or surgery and are now NED again. One of our members, Joel C, had a recurrence in his Paratracheal lymph node and he went on to have treatment and surgery and is doing well.

    I know this is devastating to hear, I think all of us who are survivors live in fear of this kind of recurrence. Try to stay positive. I am glad your appointment with your oncologist is soon and hopefully you can get the scan results quickly and get a treatment plan defined.

    You will be in my prayers,


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    Good information
    Thanks Paul for the good information. The chance that there is still opportunity to fight is encouraging.

    We, too, have him in our prayers.
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    You are in my thoughts
    Josie,

    I don't have any knowledge to add, but wanted you to know - from one Iowan to another - you are in my thoughts & prayers!

    Glad your Onc appointment is soon. Hopefully they have a good plan in mind for you.

    To better days,

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to EC, June 19, 2012
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    I'm sorry to hear the latest
    I'm sorry to hear the latest setback, but so glad for Paul's positive post. I know you are devastated. As a survivor this is always in the back of my mind.
    Will be praying for good results for the pet scan.
    Sandra
  • Starlight11
    Starlight11 Member Posts: 8
    Josie,
    Keep a positive frame of mind. Everyone responds differently to chemo. Hopefully your treatment will kick some EC butt! We are pulling for you!
  • ShellyMac
    ShellyMac Member Posts: 16
    Hi Josie.
    I, too, had a

    Hi Josie.

    I, too, had a recurrence to a left paratrachial lymph node which showed up in my six month scan post surgery (MIE 1/2012). On 9/5/2012 I had that node removed, along with a pretty intense dissection of the neck in which 15 addittional nodes were removed (all tested negated for EC except the one they knew of). Both surgeries were performed at Brigham & Women's hospital in Boston.

    I am meeting with oncologist and radiation oncologist at Dana Farber Cancer Center next week for how to proceed as my surgeon is adamant I undergo intense chemo AND radiation of the neck, whereas my local doctors think radiation may do more harm than good. In my case I really have faith in my surgeon, Dr. Raphael Bueno, as he has much experience with EC.

    I am a 47 year old female in good physical condition so I will be as aggressive as my doctors will allow. You may want to ask for another opinion if your doctors don't offer aggressive treatment.

    I am sorry to hear that your biopsy came back positive but on the upside the nodes are localized! I am sending all my prayers and positive energy your way. Please keep us posted.

    Be well,

    Shelly
  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    ShellyMac said:

    Hi Josie.
    I, too, had a

    Hi Josie.

    I, too, had a recurrence to a left paratrachial lymph node which showed up in my six month scan post surgery (MIE 1/2012). On 9/5/2012 I had that node removed, along with a pretty intense dissection of the neck in which 15 addittional nodes were removed (all tested negated for EC except the one they knew of). Both surgeries were performed at Brigham & Women's hospital in Boston.

    I am meeting with oncologist and radiation oncologist at Dana Farber Cancer Center next week for how to proceed as my surgeon is adamant I undergo intense chemo AND radiation of the neck, whereas my local doctors think radiation may do more harm than good. In my case I really have faith in my surgeon, Dr. Raphael Bueno, as he has much experience with EC.

    I am a 47 year old female in good physical condition so I will be as aggressive as my doctors will allow. You may want to ask for another opinion if your doctors don't offer aggressive treatment.

    I am sorry to hear that your biopsy came back positive but on the upside the nodes are localized! I am sending all my prayers and positive energy your way. Please keep us posted.

    Be well,

    Shelly

    Follow uo info
    The biopsy was Sept 20. A pet scan on Sept 25 indicates 5 lymph nodes in the left clavical lighting up. They also saw additional shadows on the lungs that weren't there in March, but they aren't lighting up so I am hoping its nothing serious.

    The local oncologist is suggesting 5EC ( 5FU/ Cisplatin/ Epirbician) combination as an outpatient. I wanted a second opinion from the Univeersity of Iowa Oncology center because in March that oncologist suggested in patient treatment for the same combination, so I wanted to see what they said now. That is scheduled for this coming monday.I am getting nervous about the 3 weeks that has passed between the biopsy and the potential start of chemo. I did finally have a brain storm- since either location will probably require a port for the 5FU, I got that scheduled to be installed next Tuesday so maybe I can get the chemo started yet next week.
  • ShellyMac
    ShellyMac Member Posts: 16
    Josie60 said:

    Follow uo info
    The biopsy was Sept 20. A pet scan on Sept 25 indicates 5 lymph nodes in the left clavical lighting up. They also saw additional shadows on the lungs that weren't there in March, but they aren't lighting up so I am hoping its nothing serious.

    The local oncologist is suggesting 5EC ( 5FU/ Cisplatin/ Epirbician) combination as an outpatient. I wanted a second opinion from the Univeersity of Iowa Oncology center because in March that oncologist suggested in patient treatment for the same combination, so I wanted to see what they said now. That is scheduled for this coming monday.I am getting nervous about the 3 weeks that has passed between the biopsy and the potential start of chemo. I did finally have a brain storm- since either location will probably require a port for the 5FU, I got that scheduled to be installed next Tuesday so maybe I can get the chemo started yet next week.

    Good for you for getting the
    Good for you for getting the second opinion from the Oncology Center and for thinking to get your port installed. No disrespect to your oncologist, but it seems that they should have been on top of that.

    I can tell from the tone of your message that you feel more upbeat and positive. Being proactive has a lot to do with this. Stay strong and positive and I am sending positive enegy your way.

    Keep being positive!

    Shelly
  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    Finally getting the chemo started
    I'll be starting a fairly aggressive chemo regime on Monday,3 weeks after the biopsy. I will start with cisplatin. And then 96 hour infusion of 5 FU. Since there is a small chance that they may radiate some of the nodes later we are going to wait on the Epirubcin. Then repeat again in about 4 weeks. My biggest concern is the nausea and dehydration. But the oncologist says if it gets bad he will put me in the hospital. I'm hoping we will have good results and get this knocked out of my system
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    Josie60 said:

    Finally getting the chemo started
    I'll be starting a fairly aggressive chemo regime on Monday,3 weeks after the biopsy. I will start with cisplatin. And then 96 hour infusion of 5 FU. Since there is a small chance that they may radiate some of the nodes later we are going to wait on the Epirubcin. Then repeat again in about 4 weeks. My biggest concern is the nausea and dehydration. But the oncologist says if it gets bad he will put me in the hospital. I'm hoping we will have good results and get this knocked out of my system

    Talk to your oncologist about IV hydration
    I was on the same regimen after my surgery. I found that if I received an infusion on Monday I was very quickly dehydrated a couple of days later. After a few cycles I found that if I went in for IV hydration on Wednesday of the week I received an infusion I felt much better. I also found Emend to be very helpful for nausea.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    paul61 said:

    Talk to your oncologist about IV hydration
    I was on the same regimen after my surgery. I found that if I received an infusion on Monday I was very quickly dehydrated a couple of days later. After a few cycles I found that if I went in for IV hydration on Wednesday of the week I received an infusion I felt much better. I also found Emend to be very helpful for nausea.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    Thanks Paul
    The oncologist has already scheduled hydration IV for the first day and based on the many helpful suggestions from here and another forum ( esophgeal cancer fighters network) we were planning to set up a schedule of hydration and make sure I have the medication on hand for neasua, Dierriaha, and mouth sores when we start..

    Prepare for the worse and hope for the best. I know it's going to be rough but I certainly hope it knocks this stuff on its butt.